A couple days ago I said something hasty and insane about “killing genre,” and in there I hit on something I really quite liked — giving fiction aspects or elements instead of genres. So, instead of searching for “epic fantasy,” you can search for stories that have “fantasy” and “politics” together. Or “jetpacks.” Or “detective / mythology / death in the family.” Whatever.

So, that’s (er, kinda) what I’m doing here, today.

I’m going to give you three columns.

You have to pick one from each column.

And from that, write a 1000-word story.

In addition, I’ll pick three random winners from this pile of participants and give away some free e-books. I don’t know what, yet, so let’s just say it’ll be a surprise. Kay? Kay.

As always, the details remain the same. You’ve got one week (due by noon EST, Friday the 14th). Post at your blog, and link back here so we can all swing by and have a look-see.

(If you really want to get crazy, roll a d10 or pick random number between 1 and 10 from this Random Number Generator. In other words, let fate pick your choices in each category!)

[…] for Chuck Wendig, who had an idea about destroying genre and just having aspects…look, just read the post, ok? Also, Chuck, that Random Number Generator kept throwing out obvious combinations. I got this roll […]

Blood and Iron – a 1,000-word story that is probably more sword and sorcery than either of the other two categories. Aspects: sword and sorcery/serial killer/man versus himself. I’m not too sure how much of the third aspect survived the cutting room floor, but enjoy 🙂

[…] two short novels for early teens. His books are for sale in our Bookstore. This is a response to this flash fiction challenge from Chuck Wendig. I have to admit, though, that this story feels a bit unfinished, could be a […]

*Groan!* I made a mess of this one. I’ve been battering my head against it all week, and now I feel like I haven’t stopped writing it, just stopped typing. Too long again (1290 words). I think it actually feels like part of a much larger story, perhaps the first chapter of a novelette?

[…] time to time, Chuck Wendig posts flash fiction challenges on his website. Last Friday, he posted A Game of Aspects, inviting writers to pick one story aspect from each of three columns. I don’t generally […]

An oracle and her sword-wielding brother are trapped in a catacomb after following one of her premonitions. When they meet the necromancer awaiting in the heart of the tomb, they must fight against a far more terrifying kind of imprisonment — being trapped within your own body.

I missed the deadline (bah) and couldn’t figure out a good way to shave off the last 300 words (double bah). But I thought I’d post it anyway, you know, for shits and giggles, since I did use a D10 to generate the aspects, and it was a fun story to write.

Chuck, please don’t beat me about the head and neck with the +5 Double-Headed Dildo of Obviousness for borking the submission guidelines.

Anyway, here it is:

Gossamer Wings: A young boy and his trained butterflies seek vengeance against a corrupt genetic researcher.